Grand jury indicts Gromashak, Garcia, in theft of cash, drugs

A Dukes County Superior Court grand jury has returned indictments against two men for the knifepoint robbery of drugs and cash from an Edgartown house on October 19, 2011. They were previously charged in Edgartown District Court.

Brian Gromoshak, 31, of Oak Bluffs, will face seven separate charges, including armed robbery, assault and battery, breaking and entering, larceny, two counts of intimidation of a witness, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Demetrio Garcia, 19, of Oak Bluffs will face four charges, including armed robbery, assault and battery with a deadly weapon, breaking and entering, and larceny.

At his arraignment in Edgartown District Court in October, the court set bail for Mr. Gromoshak at $35,000. The court set bail for Mr. Garcia at $10,000. Both men remain in custody at the Dukes County Jail.

The January 24 indictments stem from the October 19 robbery of three pounds of marijuana and $7,000 in cash.

According to police, one of the men held a knife to the throat of the robbery victim and threatened to kill him and his family.

Police declined to identify the victim of the crime, because of the nature of the threats against him and the continuing investigation.

Both Mr. Gromoshak and Mr. Garcia have violent criminal records on Martha’s Vineyard, both have served jail sentences for previous crimes, and both were on probation when arrested on the latest charges.

The indictment moves the case to Superior Court, where the court could impose more severe sentences. The maximum jail sentence that can be imposed in District Court is 2.5 years.

Under state law, a person convicted of armed robbery may be sentenced to any term of years, including life in prison. A person convicted of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon could be sentenced to up to 10 years in jail.